Pretty Boy

Chapter 15

I stopped by my dorm to change after class ended, finding Adam on his phone. "Oh! You're back."

"I'm going to the gym."

"I wanna go too!"

"Stay." I glared at him.

"I'm not a dog."

"Do I have to put a collar and a leash on you to keep you away from me?" I scoffed. "If that's what it takes, I'll do it and tie you to the bike rack."

"Sounds kinky, I'm in!"

"Adam."

"Come on, I won't bug you! Just take me with you. We can take Elise!"

"It's not a party." I took him and his friend with me. She sat in the front since I didn't want him beside me. "So your name is Elise?"

"Yeah! But my mom calls me Erisu since she's Japanese. My dad's the one who picked out my name."

"Is he American?"

"French."

"So you both have foreign parents?"

"Yep!" She smiled and adjusted her shorts. They were paired with a black tank top, her hair tied back in a ponytail. "You work out often?"

"Yeah."

She reached over and lifted up my t-shirt, staring at my abdomen. "Wow no kidding."

I smacked her hand away."

"Wait! I wanna see!" Adam leaned between the seats and reached for my shirt but I smacked his hand away even harder.

"Stop touching me without my consent."

"But you always turn your back when you change clothes! I've never gotten to see you" he frowned. "It's not fair to let her see!"

"Stop whining, I didn't let her willingly."

"Someone's jealous." She laughed. "I bet his dick is huge."

"Shut up!" I glared at her, my face flushing a bit. "Stop talking about my body."

"Aw, are you insecure?" She asked.

"Do you want to die?" I held my glare. "Leave me alone. Both of you. You're lucky I'm about to work off all of my anger."

"Someone's had a rough day." She sighed and leaned back in her seat. "What happened? Which professor yelled at you?"

"None of them. I'm a good student."

"He's always like this. You get used to it." Adam replied to her question. "He's actually pretty nice once you get to know him."

"I'm not."

"That's why you took me to a paranormal concert?"

"I took you because I like you."

I caught a glimpse of his face in the mirror. He's blushing. "You-...but-"

"Not like that yet. I still haven't lost, you annoy me. But I wanted to take you because I wanted to see you happy."

"Aw! You are nice!" Elise grabbed my hand and smiled. "So sweet."

"Let go of me."

Though I was with overly optimistic people, I still felt unmotivated and sad. I was beginning to grow frustrated with little complications. Which is why when I parked my car and went into the gym, tripping on my shoe, I grew beyond furious.

"You okay?" Adam grabbed my arm before I could fall.

"I'm fine." I shoved him away and walked over to the treadmill, turning it on and plugging my headphones in. I ran faster than usual, waiting until my legs started to burn to turn it up.

"You're working pretty hard." Elise walked over to me, sweating from working out with Adam. I'd been in my own little world for the past hour. "You feeling okay?"

"I'm okay." I turned it up again, listening to my feet hit the treadmill heavily. My lungs burn and my throat is cold from breathing too hard. I'm not okay.

"You're overworking yourself. Why not take a break and drink some water?" She smiled softly.

"No."

"Adam's really worried about you."

"He'll be fine."

"Shuji, please stop for a minute and look at me."

"No."

She shut off the treadmill and let her smile fall. I faced her, gasping for air and leaning my arms on the handles. "Rest your forearms on the back of your head. It helps you breathe easier."

I did as she told me and took slower breaths. "Hah....thanks." I breathed out a reply, struggling to talk.

"I'm starting to worry too. Let's go back to the dorms, yeah?"

"You two can go." I handed her my car keys. "I'm staying."

"Your legs are shaking."

"I...I want to keep going. So please leave me here. I can walk back, it's not far."

"I have a feeling you can hardly walk to the car."

"I'll be okay."

"Fine. If you need me, I'll come pick you up. I won't tell Adam either since I don't want him to worry. Text him in an hour or so and tell him you're taking a break at him. You don't live far do you?"

"No."

"Great. Thank you. If he knows you're gonna work yourself like this, he won't let you stay."

"And you will?"

"I think you need to get it out of your system." She grabbed my phone and typed her number in on my notes. "Here's my number. Just call when you want me to come get you."

"Thanks."

They both left and I stayed at the gym until nightfall, either lifting weights or working one one of the machines. By the time I had to give up, I couldn't feel my limbs or even my abdomen. I tried to walk to the door but my legs gave out and my knees hit the floor. Damnit. I'm gonna have to call her.

"You ready to go?" She answered quickly.

"Yeah..."

"I'll bring water. You sound exhausted."

"I might need you to help me to the car."

She picked me up and helped me back to my dorm, leaving for Adam to take care of me. I was struggling to hide my exhaustion as I stepped inside.

"Welcome back." He smiled to me. "You're shaking, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just...I'm..." my vision grew blurry, having to hold onto the railing of the top bunk to stay standing.

"Shuji...?" He asked gently, walking over to me and placing a hand on my shoulder. I collapsed into him, my body too weak to hold its own weight. I could barely even talk. "Ah- Shuji!"